Two other students inside the car suffered minor injuries.
It happened around 10:30 Saturday morning on Lake Rd. near Atlantic Street just a few miles from the UC Merced campus.
PG&E crews repaired the pole Saturday and reopened Lake Rd. around 5 p.m.
The victims have not been identified. We do, however know they are both 19-year-old women.
The two injured passengers are a man and woman ages 18 and 19.
Investigators tell me they had just left the UC Merced campus and were heading toward Fresno to spend Easter with their families.
One of the 19-year-old females was driving at the time.
The California Highway Patrol says they were heading south on Lake when the driver veered onto the west shoulder.
Investigators say when she tried to get back onto the roadway-she lost control and hit the power pole severing it at the base.
"We don't suspect any alcohol or drugs, just maybe some distracted driving that caused the vehicle to go off the road," Officer John Moran said. "It is very, very sad."
All four teens were wearing seat belts at the time. And the CHP says they have no reason to believe the teen driver was speeding.
Homes in this area lost power after the crash. It has since been restored.
